Longmont stabbing deaths: Secundino Martinez trial set for January

Secundino Martinez appears in Boulder District Court on Tuesday. He agreed to extend his right to a speedy trial for a January trial date. (Matthew Jonas / Longmont Times-Call)

A Frederick man charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing deaths of two Lafayette teenagers at a Longmont party is scheduled to stand trial next Jan. 19.

Secundino "Dino" Martinez, 21, is being held without bond in the Boulder County Jail. He also is charged with attempted murder and first-degree assault. If he is convicted of all charges, he would be sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Martinez was one of about 20 people attending a party at 712 Francis St. in Longmont on Jan. 11. Early in the morning of Jan. 12, an argument escalated into a fight on the front lawn of the home. Police were called at 2:07 a.m.; when they arrived, they found 19-year-old Brian Farmer dead and 18-year-old Jerrad Wallace critically injured. Wallace died at Longmont United Hospital on Jan. 14.

Trevor Dolifka, who was 18 at the time, also was critically injured and hospitalized.

Prosecutor Christopher Estoll wanted to schedule the trial for November, but Martinez' attorney objected because she is waiting for evidence reports.

Defense attorney Nelissa Milfeld said Tuesday that she received the autopsy reports in May. The reports showed that the two victims had high levels of "bath salts" in their systems when they died.

According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, bath salts are synthetic cathinones — illegal drugs that can cause paranoia, violent behavior, delusions and other symptoms. Bath salts are promoted as an alternative to cocaine, the Association reported on its website.

Milfeld also said that Martinez' DNA was not found on the knife police believed to be the weapon in the stabbings, and that the Colorado Bureau of Investigation is still testing 34 pieces of evidence.

Estoll replied that those tests are almost complete, and that the defense would receive a report soon.

"The people have an interest in moving the case along and getting it to trial this year," Estoll said before Judge Andrew Mcdonald set the trial date. The trial is expected to last two weeks.

Two hearings are scheduled, on Oct. 2 and Nov. 24, to argue pre-trial motions. No arraignment date is scheduled.

Martinez told police when he was arrested that he was defending himself. However, his attorneys have not formally pleaded self-defense in the case.

Police arrested Martinez, covered in blood and carrying a bloody shirt, on the east side of Longmont about an hour after being called to the stabbing. Police reported that Martinez said, "Six people were beating me up. I was defending myself."

Longmont Police Detective Stacey Graham testified in March that Farmer was stabbed in the neck and his left ear and that Wallace was stabbed five times.

Boulder County Coroner Emma Hall reported in March that Farmer died of a stab wound to the neck. Wallace suffered multiple stab wounds to the back, chest and neck.